Liner Giant MSC Makes Major Towing Acquisition

Mediterranean Shipping Company has agreed to acquire Italian towage operator Rimorchiatori Mediterranei S.p.A., the world’s third-largest harbor tug operator, as it seeks to improve its “towage service efficiency,” the world’s largest container shipping company announced Monday.

Rimorchiatori Mediterranei has operations in Italy, Malta, Singapore, Malaysia, Norway, Greece and Colombia.

Under the deal, MSC will acquire 100% of the company’s shares from Rimorchiatori Riuniti and a fund managed by DWS’s Infrastructure Investment business. Closing of the deal is subject to regulatory approvals. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The acquisition follows MSC’s founding of towage operator MedTug in 2021.

“We are very pleased to be able to become part of the exciting next phase for growth and improvement at Rimorchiatori Mediterranei and we look forward to continuing to expand the business, building on the impressive work of the families that developed the company these past 100 years,” said Diego Aponte, MSC Group President.

Rimorchiatori Riuniti was founded in 1922 by a group of Genoese families. The company became the world’s third largest operator of harbor tugs earlier this year with the closing of its acquisition of Keppel Smit Towage and Maju Maritime, bringing its tug fleet to some 170 vessels.

A.P. Moller – Maersk, MSC’s rival and partner in the 2M shipping alliance, owns the leading towage company Svitzer, which operates a fleet of about 440 vessels.

Rimorchiatori Riuniti Group will continue operating its services in ship owning, ship management, and offshore activities through the 100% controlled companies Crystal Pool and Finarge.

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